JP2018161875A - Liquid cartridge and liquid consumption apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A liquid cartridge capable of reducing leakage of liquid from a storage chamber is provided. An ink cartridge includes a casing having a first storage chamber defined by a front wall, a rear wall, a partition wall, and a sub lower wall, and ink stored in the first storage chamber. An ink supply unit 34 for supplying the first storage chamber 32 to the outside, and an atmosphere communication channel 72 for communicating the first storage chamber 32 with the atmosphere. One end of the atmosphere communication channel 72 is opened into the first storage chamber 32 by the opening 85, and the other end of the atmosphere communication channel 72 is opened to the atmosphere by the atmosphere communication port 96. The opening 85 is formed in the atmosphere communication pipe 82 that extends downward from the partition wall 44 in the first storage chamber 32. The opening 85 is below the liquid level position P2 when the maximum amount of ink allowed to be stored in the first storage chamber 32 in the use posture, and is in the vertical center position P3 of the first storage chamber 32. It is located above. [Selection] Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid cartridge including a housing having a liquid storage chamber and a liquid supply hole for supplying the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber to the outside, and a liquid consuming apparatus to which the liquid cartridge can be attached.

  There is known a printer including a recording head that discharges ink supplied from an ink cartridge through a nozzle. In such a printer, when the liquid level of the ink stored in the storage chamber of the ink cartridge is higher than the height of the nozzle, the meniscus formed on the nozzle is destroyed due to the water head difference between the liquid level and the nozzle. There is a risk that. Therefore, the height of the liquid level of the ink stored in the storage chamber needs to be equal to or less than the height of the nozzle. Then, the amount of ink that can be stored in the storage chamber is reduced.

  In order to solve such a problem, there is an ink cartridge having a cylinder extending from the upper end of the storage chamber to the lower portion of the storage chamber (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The upper end of the cylinder communicates with the outside of the storage chamber, that is, the atmosphere, and the lower end of the cylinder communicates with the storage chamber. Thereby, even if the liquid level of the ink stored in the storage chamber becomes higher than the height of the nozzle surface, the position serving as a reference for the water head difference from the nozzle can be set as the lower end of the cylinder. As a result, a large amount of ink can be stored in the storage chamber.

JP 2007-253328 A

  However, when the cylinder extends to the lower part of the storage chamber, the following problem occurs.

  If the atmospheric pressure outside the ink cartridge is lowered by moving the ink cartridge to a high altitude after manufacture, the ink stored in the storage chamber may be sucked into the cylinder communicating with the outside and leaked to the outside of the storage chamber There is. At this time, if the cylinder extends to the lower part of the storage chamber, the possibility that a large amount of ink is sucked into the cylinder increases.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid cartridge that can reduce liquid leakage from a storage chamber.

  (1) The liquid cartridge according to the present invention includes a front wall and a rear wall separated in the front-rear direction intersecting the direction of gravity in a use posture, an upper wall connecting the upper end portion of the front wall and the upper end portion of the rear wall, A housing in which a liquid storage chamber is defined by a lower wall connecting the lower end portion of the front wall and the lower end portion of the rear wall, a liquid supply hole for supplying the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber to the outside, and the liquid And an atmosphere communication channel for communicating the storage chamber with the atmosphere. One end of the atmospheric communication channel opens into the liquid storage chamber, and the other end of the atmospheric communication channel opens into the atmosphere. An opening at one end of the atmospheric communication channel is formed in an atmospheric communication pipe extending downward from the upper wall into the liquid storage chamber. The opening at one end of the atmosphere communication channel is below the liquid level when the maximum amount of liquid allowed to be stored in the liquid storage chamber in the use posture and in the vertical direction of the liquid storage chamber. Located above the center.

  According to the above configuration, since the opening at one end of the atmosphere communication channel is located in the upper part of the liquid storage chamber, the atmospheric pressure outside the liquid cartridge is lowered by moving the liquid cartridge to a high altitude after manufacture. Even if it exists, the quantity by which the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber is sucked into the atmosphere communication channel can be reduced.

  In addition, when injecting liquid into the liquid storage chamber, if the opening at one end of the atmosphere communication channel is blocked by the liquid, it becomes impossible to introduce air into the liquid storage chamber from the outside. Disappear. Therefore, when injecting liquid into the liquid storage chamber, the housing is tilted in order to inject as much liquid as possible. However, if the opening at one end of the atmosphere communication channel is located in the lower part of the liquid storage chamber, a large amount of liquid cannot be injected into the liquid storage chamber even if the casing is tilted. According to the above configuration, since the opening at one end of the atmosphere communication channel is located above the liquid storage chamber, a large amount of liquid can be injected into the liquid storage chamber.

  (2) The atmosphere communication pipe is located in the vicinity of the front wall or the rear wall in the liquid storage chamber.

  According to the above configuration, when the casing is tilted and liquid is injected into the liquid storage chamber, the one in the vicinity of the front wall or the vicinity of the rear wall in the liquid storage chamber is positioned upward. By tilting the housing, a large amount of liquid can be injected into the liquid storage chamber.

  (3) The length of the liquid storage chamber in the front-rear direction is longer than the length of the liquid storage chamber in the front-rear direction and the width direction orthogonal to the vertical direction.

  According to the above configuration, more liquid can be injected into the liquid storage chamber when the liquid cartridge is configured as in (2), for example.

  (4) The liquid supply hole is an inlet through which liquid can be injected from the outside into the liquid storage chamber.

  According to the above configuration, the inlet for injecting the liquid from the outside into the liquid storage chamber is also used as the liquid supply hole for supplying the liquid in the liquid storage chamber to the outside after the liquid is injected into the liquid storage chamber can do. Thereby, since the number of openings formed in the liquid storage chamber is reduced, liquid leakage can be further reduced.

  (5) The casing includes a buffer chamber positioned above the upper wall in the vertical direction. The buffer chamber communicates with the liquid storage chamber through a storage chamber side opening communicating with the atmosphere communication pipe, and communicates with the outside of the housing and the outside opening. Furthermore, the buffer chamber is formed from a position closer to the front wall than the center of the liquid storage chamber in the front-rear direction to a position closer to the rear wall than the center in the front-rear direction.

  According to the above configuration, since the buffer chamber is long in the front-rear direction, the horizontal sectional area of the buffer chamber is increased. Thereby, even if the liquid is sucked into the atmosphere communication channel and reaches the buffer chamber, the liquid level of the liquid in the buffer chamber is unlikely to increase. As a result, it is possible to suppress an increase in the water head pressure on the liquid surface.

  (6) The liquid when the maximum amount of liquid allowed to be stored in the liquid storage chamber is stored in the liquid storage chamber in the use posture in the region above the opening at one end of the atmosphere communication channel in the liquid storage chamber. The volume of the area below the surface is smaller than the volume of the buffer chamber.

  According to the above configuration, it is assumed that the atmospheric pressure outside the liquid cartridge is lowered by moving the liquid cartridge to a high altitude after manufacture, and the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber enters the atmosphere communication channel. However, if the liquid level of the liquid becomes lower than the opening at one end of the atmosphere communication channel, the liquid does not enter the buffer chamber any more. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the liquid from overflowing from the buffer chamber to the outside of the housing.

  (7) The upper end of the atmosphere communication pipe is located at a height below the bottom surface of the buffer chamber in the up-down direction.

  If the upper end of the atmosphere communication pipe is higher than the bottom surface of the buffer chamber, of the liquid sucked into the opening of one end of the atmosphere communication channel from the liquid storage chamber and entering the buffer chamber, near the bottom surface of the buffer chamber It is difficult to return the liquid located at the height to the liquid storage chamber. However, in the above configuration, since the upper end of the atmosphere communication pipe is located at a height below the bottom surface of the buffer chamber, the liquid located near the bottom surface of the buffer chamber is likely to return to the liquid storage chamber.

  (8) The storage chamber side opening is formed on the bottom surface of the buffer chamber.

  According to the above configuration, since the storage chamber side opening is formed in the bottom surface of the buffer chamber, the liquid sucked into the opening at one end of the atmosphere communication channel from the liquid storage chamber and entering the buffer chamber is transferred to the liquid storage chamber. Easy to return.

  (9) The bottom surface of the buffer chamber is inclined downward toward the storage chamber side opening.

  According to the above configuration, the liquid sucked from the liquid storage chamber into the opening at one end of the atmospheric communication channel and entering the buffer chamber is guided to the storage chamber side opening along the inclined bottom surface. As a result, the liquid that has entered the buffer chamber easily returns to the liquid storage chamber.

  (10) For example, the liquid supply hole faces the direction intersecting the gravity direction in the use posture.

  (11) The liquid consuming device according to the present invention includes the liquid cartridge and a cartridge mounting unit to which the liquid cartridge can be mounted, and the supply unit communicates with the supply unit in a state in which the liquid cartridge is mounted. A cartridge mounting portion having a main body side liquid storage chamber for storing the liquid supplied from the main body, and a consumption portion for consuming the liquid supplied from the main body side liquid storage chamber. The volume of the main body side liquid storage chamber is larger than the volume of the buffer chamber.

  According to the above configuration, when the liquid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion, the liquid flows from the liquid storage chamber to the main body side liquid storage chamber due to a water head difference. At that time, the liquid sucked from the liquid storage chamber into the opening at one end of the atmosphere communication channel and entered the buffer chamber flows from the buffer chamber to the liquid storage chamber. Here, according to the said structure, the volume of the main body side liquid storage chamber is larger than the volume of a buffer chamber. Therefore, all of the liquid sucked from the liquid storage chamber into the opening at one end of the atmosphere communication channel and entering the buffer chamber can be returned to the liquid storage chamber.

  According to the present invention, leakage of liquid from the liquid storage chamber can be reduced.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the printer 10. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the cartridge mounting portion 110 on the opening 112 side. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110. FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the ink cartridge 30. FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the ink cartridge 30. 6A is a left side view of the ink cartridge 30, and FIG. 6B is a rear view of the ink cartridge 30. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a VII-VII cross section in FIG. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a VII-VII cross section in FIG. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a VII-VII cross section in FIG. 6B, and shows a state where the ink cartridge 30 is connected to the housing 171 and the pump 173. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a VII-VII cross section in FIG. 6B, and shows a state in which the ink cartridge 30 is tilted. FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an ink cartridge 30 according to a modification. FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of the ink cartridge 30 having a configuration in which the atmosphere communication pipe 82 is long downward. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a VII-VII cross section in FIG. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a VII-VII cross section in FIG. 6B, and shows a state where ink has entered the air chamber 73.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. The embodiment described below is merely an example in which the present invention is embodied, and it is needless to say that the embodiment can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  In the following description, the direction in which the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting unit 110 is defined as the front direction 51. Further, the direction in which the ink cartridge 30 is extracted from the cartridge mounting unit 110 is defined as the rear direction 52. Hereinafter, the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into and removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110 in the horizontal direction. Therefore, although the description will be made on the assumption that the front direction 51 and the rear direction 52 are horizontal directions, the front direction 51 and the rear direction 52 are not necessarily horizontal. A direction orthogonal to either the front direction 51 or the rear direction 52 is defined as a downward direction 53. The direction opposite to the downward direction 53 is defined as the upward direction 54. A direction orthogonal to the forward direction 51 and the downward direction 53 is defined as a right direction 55. The direction opposite to the right direction 55 is defined as the left direction 56. Therefore, in the state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110 and used, the description will be made on the assumption that the gravity direction is the downward direction 53 and the direction opposite to the gravity direction is the upward direction 54. That is, the outer surface of the lower wall 42 of the housing 31 faces downward in the gravitational direction in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110 and used. In addition, directions orthogonal to the front direction 51 and the downward direction 53 are defined as a right direction 55 and a left direction 56. More specifically, when the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110 and used, the right direction 55 is defined as the right direction when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed from the rear to the front. A direction facing left is defined as a left direction 56. The state in which the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110 and used is a state in which the ink cartridge 30 is inserted to the mounting position of the cartridge mounting unit 110. In the mounting position, the ink needle 102 provided in the cartridge mounting unit 110 is inserted into the ink supply unit 34 provided in the ink cartridge 30 and connected to each other, and the IC substrate 64 provided in the ink cartridge 30 is connected to the cartridge mounting unit. This is a position in contact with the contact 106 provided at 110. Hereinafter, the posture of the ink cartridge 30 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110 and used is referred to as a usage posture.

  Further, the front direction 51 and the rear direction 52 are defined as the front-rear direction. Further, the upward direction 54 and the downward direction 53 are defined as the vertical direction. Moreover, the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 are defined as the left-right direction (an example of the width direction).

  In the following description, “facing forward” includes facing a direction including a front component, and “facing rearward” includes facing a direction including a rear component. Further, “facing downward” includes facing a direction including a lower component, and “facing upward” includes facing a direction including an upper component. For example, “the front surface is directed forward” may mean that the front surface is directed forward or the front surface is directed in a direction inclined with respect to the front.

[Overview of Printer 10]
As shown in FIG. 1, a printer 10 (an example of a liquid consuming apparatus) is an image recording apparatus that records an image by ejecting ink droplets onto a sheet based on an inkjet recording method. It is. The printer 10 includes a recording head 21 (an example of a consumption unit), an ink supply device 100, and an ink tube 20 that connects the recording head 21 and the ink supply device 100. The ink supply device 100 includes a cartridge mounting unit 110. The ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110. An opening 112 is formed on one surface of the cartridge mounting portion 110. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted forward into the cartridge mounting portion 110 through the opening 112, or is extracted rearward from the cartridge mounting portion 110 through the opening 112.

  The ink cartridge 30 stores liquid, for example, ink that can be used in the printer 10. In a state where the mounting of the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge mounting unit 110 is completed, the ink cartridge 30 and the recording head 21 are connected via the ink tube 20. The recording head 21 has a damper chamber 28 that temporarily stores ink supplied through the ink tube 20. The recording head 21 ejects ink supplied from the damper chamber 28 from a plurality of nozzles 29. Specifically, the head control board provided in the recording head 21 selectively applies a driving voltage to the plurality of piezoelectric elements 29 </ b> A provided corresponding to the plurality of nozzles 29. Thereby, ink is selectively ejected from the nozzles 29. That is, the recording head 21 consumes ink stored in the ink cartridge 30 mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110.

  The printer 10 includes a paper feed tray 15, a paper feed roller 23, a transport roller pair 25, a platen 26, a discharge roller pair 27, and a paper discharge tray 16. The paper feed roller 23 feeds the paper on the paper feed tray 15 toward the transport path 24. The paper fed to the conveyance path 24 eventually reaches the conveyance roller pair 25. The conveyance roller pair 25 conveys the ease of reaching the conveyance roller pair 25 onto the platen 26. The recording head 21 selectively ejects ink onto a sheet that passes over the platen 26. Thereby, an image is recorded on the paper. The sheet that has passed through the platen 26 reaches the discharge roller pair 27. The discharge roller pair 27 discharges the paper that has reached the discharge roller pair 27 to the paper discharge tray 16 located on the most downstream side of the transport path 24.

[Ink supply apparatus 100]
As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 10 includes an ink supply device 100. The ink supply device 100 supplies ink to the recording head 21. The ink supply device 100 includes a cartridge mounting part 110 to which the ink cartridge 30 can be mounted, a tank 103, and an ink tube 20. FIG. 1 shows a state where the ink cartridge 30 has been completely installed in the cartridge mounting unit 110. That is, in FIG. 1, the ink cartridge 30 is in a mounted state. The posture of the ink cartridge 30 in this state is the usage posture.

[Cartridge mounting part 110]
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the cartridge mounting unit 110 includes a cartridge case 101, an ink needle 102, an optical sensor 113, a plurality of contacts 106, and a tank 103. The cartridge mounting portion 110 can accommodate four ink cartridges 30 corresponding to each color of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. Further, four ink needles 102, optical sensors 113, and tanks 103 are provided corresponding to the four ink cartridges 30. Further, for the plurality of contacts 106, four contacts 106 are provided corresponding to one ink cartridge 30, and 16 contacts 106 are provided for the four ink cartridges 30. Four tanks 103 and four ink tubes 20 are provided corresponding to each of the four ink cartridges 30.

[Cartridge case 101]
As shown in FIG. 2, the cartridge case 101 forms a housing of the cartridge mounting unit 110. The cartridge case 101 has a box shape having a top surface, a bottom surface, a final surface, and an opening 112. The top surface defines a top portion that is an upper portion of the internal space of the cartridge case 101. The bottom surface defines a bottom portion that is a lower portion of the internal space of the cartridge case 101. The end surface connects the top and bottom of the internal space of the cartridge case 101. The opening 112 is formed in the cartridge case 101 at a position facing the end surface in the front-rear direction. The opening 112 may be exposed to a user interface surface of the printer 10 that is a surface that the user faces when using the printer 10.

  The ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge case 101 through the opening 112 and removed from the cartridge case 101 through the opening 112. A guide groove 109 is formed at the bottom of the cartridge case 101. The ink cartridge 30 is guided along the front-rear direction in FIG. 2 by inserting the lower end portion of the ink cartridge 30 into the guide groove 109. The cartridge case 101 includes three plates 104 that divide the internal space into four spaces that are long in the vertical direction. One ink cartridge 30 is accommodated in each of the spaces partitioned by the plurality of plates 104.

[Ink needle 102]
As shown in FIG. 2, the ink needle 102 has a tubular shape and is positioned below the final surface of the cartridge case 101. The ink needle 102 is disposed on the end surface of the cartridge case 101 at a position corresponding to the ink supply part 34 (an example of a liquid supply hole) of the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge attachment part 110. The ink needle 102 protrudes rearward from the end surface of the cartridge case 101.

  A cylindrical guide 105 is disposed around the ink needle 102 in the cartridge case 101. The guide 105 protrudes rearward from the end surface of the cartridge case 101, and the protruding end is opened. The ink needle 102 is disposed at the center of the guide 105. The guide 105 has a shape in which the ink supply unit 34 of the ink cartridge enters inward.

  In the process of inserting the ink cartridge 30 forward into the cartridge mounting part 110, that is, in the process of moving the ink cartridge 30 to the mounting position, the ink supply part 34 of the ink cartridge 30 enters the guide 105 (see FIG. 3). When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted forward into the cartridge mounting part 110, the ink needle 102 is inserted into the ink supply port 71 formed in the ink supply part 34. Thereby, the ink needle 102 and the ink supply part 34 are mutually connected. The ink stored in the second storage chamber 33 formed inside the ink cartridge 30 flows out into the tank 103 through the ink valve chamber 35 formed inside the ink supply unit 34 and the internal space of the ink needle 102. . The tip of the ink needle 102 may be flat or pointed.

[Contact 106]
As shown in FIG. 3, four contact points 106 are arranged on the top surface of the internal space in which one ink cartridge 30 is inserted in the cartridge case 101. The four contacts 106 protrude downward from the top surface toward the internal space into which one ink cartridge 30 of the cartridge case 101 is inserted. Although not shown in detail in each drawing, each of the four contact points 106 is arranged apart in the left-right direction. The arrangement of the four contacts 106 corresponds to the arrangement of four electrodes 65 of one ink cartridge 30 described later. Each contact 106 is composed of a member having conductivity and elasticity, and can be elastically deformed upward. Four sets of four contacts 106 are arranged corresponding to the four ink cartridges 30 that can be accommodated in the cartridge case 101. That is, 16 contacts 106 are arranged on the cartridge case 101. The number of contacts 106 and the number of electrodes 65 are arbitrary.

  Each contact 106 is electrically connected to the arithmetic unit via an electric circuit. The arithmetic device is composed of, for example, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and functions as a controller of the printer 10, for example. When each contact 106 and each electrode 65 corresponding to each contact 106 come into contact and are electrically connected, the voltage Vc is applied to the first electrode 65 or the second electrode 65 is A signal indicating data is transmitted to the third electrode 65, or a synchronization signal is transmitted from the arithmetic unit to the fourth electrode 65. The electrical connection between each contact 106 and each electrode 65 corresponding to each contact 106 enables the arithmetic device to access data stored in the IC of the ink cartridge 30. The output from each contact 106 through the electric circuit is input to the arithmetic unit.

[Rod 125]
As shown in FIG. 3, a rod 125 is formed above the ink needle 102 on the end surface of the cartridge case 101. The rod 125 protrudes rearward from the end surface of the cartridge case 101. The rod 125 has a cylindrical shape. The rod 125 is connected to an air communication port 96 (an example of an opening on the outside) of the ink cartridge 30 to be described later in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, that is, in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is positioned at the mounting position. Inserted.

[Optical sensor 113]
As shown in FIG. 3, an optical sensor 113 is disposed on the top surface of the cartridge case 101. The optical sensor 113 is located behind the rod 125 and ahead of the four contact points 106. The optical sensor 113 includes a light emitter and a light receiver. The light emitter is provided on the right side or the left side of the light receiver and spaced from the light receiver. A light shielding plate 67 (described later) of the ink cartridge 30 that has been mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110 is disposed between the light emitter and the light receiver. In other words, the light emitter and the light receiver are disposed to face each other so that the light shielding plate 67 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110 is positioned between the light emitter and the light receiver. Yes.

  The optical sensor 113 outputs different detection signals depending on whether or not the light emitted along the left-right direction from the light emitter is received by the light receiver. For example, the optical sensor 113 outputs a low level signal on condition that the light output from the light emitter cannot be received by the light receiver (that is, the light reception intensity is less than a predetermined intensity). On the other hand, the optical sensor 113 outputs a high-level signal on condition that the light output from the light emitter can be received by the light receiver (that is, the light reception intensity is equal to or higher than a predetermined intensity).

[Lock shaft 145]
As shown in FIG. 3, the lock shaft 145 extends in the left-right direction of the cartridge case 101 near the top surface of the cartridge case 101 and near the opening 112. The lock shaft 145 is a rod-shaped member extending along the left-right direction. The lock shaft 145 is, for example, a metal cylinder. Both ends of the lock shaft 145 in the left-right direction are fixed to walls that define both ends of the cartridge case 101 in the left-right direction. Therefore, the lock shaft 145 does not move relative to the cartridge case 101 such as turning. The lock shaft 145 extends in the left-right direction over four spaces in which the four ink cartridges 30 can be stored. In each space in which the ink cartridge 30 is accommodated, there is a space around the lock shaft 145. Accordingly, the lock surface 151 of the ink cartridge 30 and the like can access the lock shaft 145 upward and backward.

  Here, the access may be physical contact such that the lock shaft 145 contacts the lock surface 151, or may be optical access such that light from the optical sensor 113 hits a light shielding plate 67 described later. The electrical access may be such that a current flows between the electrode 65 and the contact 106 when the contact 106 comes into contact with an electrode 65 of the IC substrate 64 described later. The accessed direction may be the up-down direction or the left-right direction.

  The lock shaft 145 is for holding the ink cartridge 30 mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110 at the mounting position. The ink cartridge 30 is engaged with the lock shaft 145 by being inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110 and rotated to a use posture. Further, the lock shaft 145 holds the ink cartridge 30 in the cartridge mounting portion 110 against the force with which the coil springs 78 and 98 of the ink cartridge 30 push the ink cartridge 30 backward.

[Tank 103]
As shown in FIG. 1, a tank 103 is disposed behind the cartridge case 101. The tank 103 has a box shape capable of storing ink therein. The upper part of the tank 103 is opened to the outside by an air communication port 124. As a result, the internal space of the tank 103 (an example of the main body side liquid storage chamber) is open to the atmosphere. The internal space of the tank 103 communicates with the internal space of the ink needle 102 at the rear. As a result, the ink that has flowed out of the ink cartridge 30 through the ink needle 102 is stored in the tank 103. Ink tubes 20 are connected to the four tanks 103, respectively. As a result, the ink stored in the internal space of the tank 103 is supplied to the recording head 21 through the ink tube 20.

[Ink cartridge 30]
The ink cartridge 30 shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 is a container that stores ink that is liquid. The posture of the ink cartridge 30 shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 is a posture when the ink cartridge 30 is in a use posture, that is, a use posture. The ink cartridge 30 includes a front wall 40, a rear wall 41, an upper wall 39, a lower wall 42, and a sub lower wall 48. The lower wall 42 and the sub lower wall 48 are examples of the lower wall. The ink cartridge 30 is in a posture in which the direction from the rear wall 41 toward the front wall 40 coincides with the front direction 51 and the direction from the front wall 40 toward the rear wall 41 coincides with the rear direction 52 in the use posture. Further, in the use posture, the ink cartridge 30 has a direction from the upper wall 39 toward the lower wall 42 and the sub lower wall 48 that coincides with the lower direction 53 (gravity direction), and the lower wall 42 and the sub lower wall 48 to the upper wall. In this posture, the direction toward 39 coincides with the upward direction 54. In the use posture of the ink cartridge 30, the direction from the side wall 38 to the side wall 37 coincides with the right direction 55, and the direction from the side wall 37 to the side wall 38 coincides with the left direction 56. When the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110 with the direction intersecting the direction of gravity as the insertion direction, the outer surface of the front wall 40 faces frontward, the outer surface of the rear wall 41 faces rearward, and the lower wall 42 And the outer surface of the sub lower wall 48 faces downward, and the outer surface of the upper wall 39 faces upward.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the ink cartridge 30 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped casing 31. In the present embodiment, the housing 31 is a container formed of resin.

  The housing 31 includes a front wall 40, a rear wall 41, an upper wall 39, a lower wall 42, a sub lower wall 48, a side wall 37, and a side wall 38. A first storage chamber 32 and a second storage chamber 33 are formed inside the housing 31. The first storage chamber 32 and the second storage chamber 33 are an example of a liquid storage chamber. The casing 31 as a whole has a flat shape in which the dimension along the left-right direction is thin, and the dimension along each of the up-down direction and the front-rear direction is larger than the dimension along the left-right direction.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting unit 110, that is, the surface of the casing 31 facing forward in the usage posture is the front wall 40, and the surface of the casing 31 facing rearward is the rear wall 41. The front wall 40 and the rear wall 41 are separated in the front-rear direction in the use posture.

  The upper wall 39 connects the upper end portion of the front wall 40 and the upper end portion of the rear wall 41. The lower wall 42 extends forward from the lower end of the rear wall 41. The sub lower wall 48 extends rearward from the lower end portion of the front wall 40. The sub lower wall 48 is located above the lower wall 42. The rear end of the sub lower wall 48 is located behind the front end of the ink supply unit 34. Both the lower wall 42 and the sub lower wall 48 are connected to the step surface 49. The ink supply unit 34 extends forward from the step surface 49 below the sub lower wall 48 and above the lower wall 42. As described above, the lower wall 42 and the sub lower wall 48 connect the lower end portion of the front wall 40 and the lower end portion of the rear wall 41.

  The side walls 37 and 38 extend so as to intersect with the front wall 40 and the rear wall 41 respectively, thereby connecting the front wall 40 and the rear wall 41. In the use posture, the outer surface of the side wall 37 faces the right side and the outer surface of the side wall 38. Is facing left.

  In the housing 31, at least the rear wall 41 has translucency so that the liquid level of the ink stored in the first storage chamber 32 and the second storage chamber 33 can be visually recognized from the outside.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, the lower wall 42 is an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the front-rear direction so that the front end is positioned below the rear end. The front end of the lower wall 42 is located in front of a lock surface 151 described later.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, a convex portion 43 is formed on the upper wall 39 of the housing 31. The convex portion 43 extends along the front-rear direction at a position offset leftward from the center in the left-right direction on the upper wall 39. The surface facing backward in the convex portion 43 is a lock surface 151. The lock surface 151 is located above the upper wall 39 of the housing 31. The lock surface 151 extends along the vertical direction. The lock surface 151 is a surface that can come into contact with the lock shaft 145 rearward in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 110. When the lock surface 151 contacts the lock shaft 145 rearward, the ink cartridge 30 is held by the cartridge mounting portion 110 against the urging force of the coil spring 78.

  A horizontal surface 154 is located in front of the lock surface 151 in the convex portion 43, and the horizontal surface 154 is continuous with the lock surface 151. The horizontal surface 154 is a surface that extends along the left-right direction and the front-rear direction. In the convex portion 43, an inclined surface 155 is located in front of the horizontal plane 154, and the inclined plane 155 is continuous with the horizontal plane 154. The inclined surface 155 faces upward and forward. The inclined surface 155 is inclined so that the front end is below the rear end. Since the lock surface 151 and the inclined surface 155 are continuous via the horizontal plane 154, the mountain shape with a sharp boundary between the lock surface 151 and the inclined surface 155 is not formed. By the inclined surface 155 and the horizontal plane 154, the lock shaft 145 is smoothly guided from the lock surface 151 to the rear while being in contact with the inclined plane 155 and the horizontal plane 154 in the process of inserting the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge mounting portion 110.

  An operation unit 90 is formed on the upper wall 39 of the housing 31 behind the lock surface 151. The upper wall 39 of the housing 31 has a sub-upper surface 91 that is formed on the front and rear sides of the upper wall 39 and positioned below the outer surface that is positioned at the center portion of the upper wall 39 in the front-rear direction. An operation unit 90 is disposed above the rear sub upper surface 91 with a space from the sub upper surface 91. The operation unit 90 has a flat plate shape that protrudes upward from the vicinity of the boundary between the upper wall 39 and the rear sub-upper surface 91 to the same extent as the convex portion 43. The operation unit 90 has an upper end position positioned in front of the lower end position. A rib 94 is formed between the operation unit 90 and the rear sub upper surface 91. The rib 94 is continuous with the operation unit 90 and the rear sub-upper surface 91 and extends rearward. The dimension of the rib 94 along the left-right direction is smaller than each of the dimension of the operation unit 90 along the left-right direction and the dimension of the rear sub upper surface 91. The rib 94 prevents the rear portion of the operation unit 90 from being deformed in the vertical direction.

  In the operation unit 90, the surface facing upward and rearward is the operation surface 92. The position of the rear portion of the operation surface 92 and the rear sub-upper surface 91 in the direction along the front-rear direction overlaps. In other words, when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed from above to below the ink cartridge 30, the rear portion of the operation surface 92 and the rear sub-upper surface 91 are in overlapping positions. On the operation surface 92, a plurality of protrusions, for example, a plurality of convex ribs 93 extending in the left-right direction are formed at intervals in the front-rear direction. The convex ribs 93 as a plurality of protrusions make it easier for the user to recognize the operation surface 92, and when the user operates the operation surface 92 with a finger, the finger is less likely to slip with respect to the operation surface 92.

  The operation surface 92 is visible when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed from above the ink cartridge 30 from below, and is visible when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed from behind the ink cartridge 30 from the front. It is. The operation surface 92 is a surface for the user to operate in order to extract the ink cartridge 30 from the state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the cartridge mounting unit 110. The operation unit 90 is molded integrally with the housing 31. Accordingly, the operation unit 90 is fixed to the housing 31 and does not move relative to the housing 31 such as turning. Therefore, the force applied from the user to the operation surface 92 is transmitted to the housing 31 as it is without changing the direction.

  The outer surfaces of the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the upper wall 39, the lower wall 42, and the side walls 37 and 38 of the ink cartridge 30 do not necessarily have to be a single plane. In other words, the ink cartridge 30 in the use posture is a surface that can be seen when viewed from the front to the rear of the ink cartridge 30 and is located in front of the front-rear direction center of the ink cartridge 30 in the use posture. The surface is the outer surface of the front wall 40. A surface that is visible when the ink cartridge 30 in the use posture is viewed from the rear to the front of the ink cartridge 30, and a surface that is located behind the center in the front-rear direction of the ink cartridge 30 in the use posture. This is the outer surface of the rear wall 41. A surface that can be seen when the ink cartridge 30 in the use posture is viewed from above and below the ink cartridge 30, and a surface that is located above the center in the vertical direction of the ink cartridge 30 in the use posture. This is the outer surface of the upper wall 39. A surface that can be seen when the ink cartridge 30 in the use posture is viewed from below and above the ink cartridge 30, and a surface that is located below the center in the vertical direction of the ink cartridge 30 in the use posture. This is the outer surface of the lower wall 42. The same applies to the outer surfaces of the side walls 37 and 38.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, a light shielding plate 67 protruding upward is formed on the outer surface of the upper wall 39. The light shielding plate 67 extends along the front-rear direction. The light shielding plate 67 is located in front of the convex portion 43. The light shielding plate 67 is positioned in front of an IC substrate 64 described later.

  The light shielding plate 67 blocks the light of the optical sensor 113 traveling along the left-right direction. More specifically, when the light output from the light emitter of the optical sensor 113 hits the light shielding plate 67 before reaching the light receiver, the intensity of the light reaching the light receiver is less than a predetermined intensity, for example, zero. It becomes. The light shielding plate 67 may completely block the light from traveling along the left-right direction, may partially attenuate the light, may bend the traveling direction of the light, It may be reflected. Further, the light shielding plate 67 is formed with a notch 66. The notch 66 is a space that is recessed downward from the upper end of the light shielding plate 67 and extends in the front-rear direction. Since the notch 66 is positioned in the optical sensor 113, the light output from the light emitter of the optical sensor 113 is not blocked until it reaches the light receiver. Depending on the presence or absence of the notch 66, for example, the user or the printer 10 can determine the type of the ink cartridge 30, that is, the type and initial amount of ink stored in the ink cartridge 30.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, an IC substrate 64 is disposed on the outer surface of the upper wall 39 and between the light shielding plate 67 and the convex portion 43. The IC substrate 64 is electrically connected to the four contacts 106 while the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, and is also connected to the four contacts 106 even when the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110. .

  The IC substrate 64 includes a substrate, an IC (not shown in each figure), and four electrodes 65. The substrate supports the IC. Four electrodes 65 are formed on the substrate. The four electrodes 65 and the IC are electrically connected. Each of the four electrodes 65 extends along the front-rear direction, and the four electrodes 65 are arranged in the left-right direction. The four electrodes 65 are exposed on the upper surface of the IC substrate 64 so as to be electrically accessible. Thereby, each of the four contacts 106 of the cartridge case 101 and each of the four electrodes 65 can be in direct contact with each other. The IC is an integrated circuit, and stores information about the ink cartridge 30 such as data indicating information such as a lot number, date of manufacture, and ink color in a readable manner. The substrate may be a so-called rigid substrate or a flexible substrate having flexibility.

  A step surface 95 extends upward from the rear end of the front sub-top surface 91. The step surface 95 is a surface facing forward. An air communication port 96 is formed on the step surface 95. In the process in which the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, the rod 125 enters the atmospheric communication port 96. The rod 125 that has entered the atmosphere communication port 96 moves the valve 97 that seals the atmosphere communication port 96 rearward against the biasing force of the coil spring 98. When the valve 97 moves rearward and moves away from the atmosphere communication port 96, the first storage chamber 32 is opened to the atmosphere.

[Internal structure of casing 31]
As shown in FIG. 7, a first storage chamber 32, a second storage chamber 33, an ink valve chamber 35, and an atmosphere communication channel 72 are formed inside the housing 31. The casing 31 includes a partition wall 44 (an example of an upper wall) that separates the first storage chamber 32 and the atmosphere communication flow path 72 and a lower wall 45 that separates the first storage chamber 32 and the second storage chamber 33. And comprising. The partition wall 44 and the lower wall 45 are walls that extend in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, respectively. The partition wall 44 and the lower wall 45 face each other in the vertical direction.

  The first storage chamber 32 has an upper end defined by the lower surface of the partition wall 44 and a lower end defined by the upper surfaces of the lower wall 45 and the sub lower wall 48. The first storage chamber 32 has a front end defined by the inner surface of the front wall 40 and a rear end defined by the inner surface of the rear wall 41. Both ends of the first storage chamber 32 are defined by the inner surfaces of the side walls 37 and 38, respectively. That is, the first storage chamber 32 is a space defined by the lower surface of the partition wall 44, the upper surfaces of the lower wall 45 and the sub lower wall 48, the inner surface of the front wall 40, the inner surface of the rear wall 41, and the inner surfaces of the side walls 37 and 38. It is. The dimension of the first storage chamber 32 in the front-rear direction is longer than the dimension of the first storage chamber 32 in the left-right direction. At the time of manufacturing the ink cartridge 30, the ink stored in the first storage chamber 32 is applied to the upper surface of the lower wall 45, the inner surface of the front wall 40, the inner surface of the rear wall 41, and the inner surfaces of the side walls 37 and 38. Touch.

  The second storage chamber 33 is located below the first storage chamber 32 in the use posture in the internal space of the housing 31 and stores ink. The volume in which the second storage chamber 33 can store ink is smaller than the volume in which the first storage chamber 32 can store ink.

  The second storage chamber 33 has an upper end defined by the lower surface of the lower wall 45 and a lower end defined by the upper surface of the lower wall 42. The rear end of the second storage chamber 33 is defined by the inner surface of the rear wall 41. The second storage chamber 33 is delimited at both ends by the inner surfaces of the side walls 37 and 38. A partition wall 50 is formed between the second storage chamber 33 and the ink valve chamber 35. The front end of the second storage chamber 33 is defined by the surface of the partition wall 50 close to the second storage chamber 33. That is, the second storage chamber 33 is a space defined by the lower surface of the lower wall 45, the upper surface of the lower wall 42, the inner surface of the rear wall 41, the inner surfaces of the side walls 37 and 38, and the inner surface of the partition wall 50. The dimension of the second storage chamber 33 in the front-rear direction is longer than the dimension of the second storage chamber 33 in the left-right direction. At the time of manufacturing the ink cartridge 30, the ink stored in the second storage chamber 33 is the lower surface of the lower wall 45, the upper surface of the lower wall 42, the inner surface of the rear wall 41, and the inner surfaces of the side walls 37 and 38. And a surface of the partition wall 50 that defines the second storage chamber 33. The second storage chamber 33 communicates with the first storage chamber 32 through a communication port 47 formed in the lower wall 45. The second storage chamber 33 is communicated with the ink valve chamber 35 through a through hole 99 formed in the partition wall 50.

  The first storage chamber 32 and the second storage chamber 33 can store an amount of ink within a prescribed maximum amount. In the present embodiment, when the specified maximum amount of ink is stored in the first storage chamber 32 and the second storage chamber 33 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is in the use posture, the position of the ink liquid level in the vertical direction. Is the position P2.

  Note that the vertical position of the ink liquid level when the specified maximum amount of ink is stored in the first storage chamber 32 and the second storage chamber 33 is not limited to the position P2. For example, when the prescribed maximum amount of ink is stored in the first storage chamber 32 and the second storage chamber 33, the ink liquid level may be in contact with the lower surface of the partition wall 44.

  The atmosphere communication channel 72 is a space that allows the first storage chamber 32 to communicate with the atmosphere by communicating the first storage chamber 32 with the outside of the ink cartridge 30. As shown in FIG. 3, the atmosphere communication channel 72 includes an air chamber 73, an atmosphere valve chamber 36, and an internal space 74 of the atmosphere communication pipe 82. The air chamber 73 and the atmospheric valve chamber 36 are examples of a buffer chamber.

  The air chamber 73 and the atmospheric valve chamber 36 are located above the partition wall 44.

  The air chamber 73 has a lower end defined by the upper surface of the partition wall 44. That is, the upper surface of the partition wall 44 is the bottom surface of the air chamber 73. The air chamber 73 has an upper end defined by the lower surface of the upper wall 39 and both side ends defined by the inner surfaces of the side walls 37 and 38. The air chamber 73 communicates with the internal space 74 of the atmosphere communication pipe 82 through a through hole 46 (an example of an opening on the storage chamber side) formed in the rear end portion of the upper surface of the partition wall 44. Here, the internal space 74 of the atmosphere communication pipe 82 is in communication with the first storage chamber 32. That is, the air chamber 73 communicates with the first storage chamber 32 through the through hole 46. The upper surface of the partition wall 44 is inclined downward with respect to the front-rear direction toward the through hole 46.

  The atmospheric valve chamber 36 is a space defined by the inner surface of the partition wall 83, the upper surface of the partition wall 44, the back surface of the step surface 95, and the inner surfaces of the prostrate side surfaces 37 and 38. A through hole 84 is formed on the rear surface of the partition wall 83. The atmospheric valve chamber 36 communicates with the air chamber 73 through a through hole 84. The atmosphere valve chamber 36 communicates with the outside of the ink cartridge 30, that is, the atmosphere, through an atmosphere communication port 96 formed so as to penetrate the step surface 95.

  A valve 97 and a coil spring 98 are accommodated in the atmospheric valve chamber 36. The valve 97 is movable to a closed position for sealing the atmospheric communication port 96 and an open position away from the atmospheric communication port 96. The coil spring 98 is disposed so as to be expandable and contractable along the front-rear direction, and biases the valve 97 in a direction in which the valve 97 abuts on the atmosphere communication port 96, that is, forward.

  The front end of the space formed by the air chamber 73 and the atmospheric valve chamber 36, specifically, the front end of the atmospheric valve chamber 36 is in the front-rear direction from the center position P 1 in the front-rear direction of the first storage chamber 32 and the second storage chamber 33. Is also located forward. In other words, in the present embodiment, the front end of the atmospheric valve chamber 36 is disposed at a position closer to the front end (front wall 40) than the rear end (rear wall 41) in the front-rear direction of the first storage chamber 32. . On the other hand, the rear end of the space formed by the air chamber 73 and the atmospheric valve chamber 36, specifically, the rear end of the air chamber 73 is located behind the center position P1 in the front-rear direction. In other words, in the present embodiment, the rear end of the air chamber 73 is disposed at a position closer to the rear end (rear wall 41) than the front end (front wall 40) in the front-rear direction of the first storage chamber 32. . That is, the air chamber 73 and the atmospheric valve chamber 36 are formed from a position closer to the front wall 40 than the center position P1 in the front-rear direction to a position closer to the rear wall 41 than the center position P1 in the front-rear direction.

  A semipermeable membrane may be arranged at any position of the air chamber 73 and the atmospheric valve chamber 36 so as to close the space between the through hole 46 and the atmospheric communication port 96. For example, the semipermeable membrane may be attached to the through hole 84. The semipermeable membrane is a porous membrane having fine pores that block the passage of ink and allow the passage of gas. For example, the semi-permeable membrane is made of polytetrafluoroethylene, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer, tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer, tetrafluoroethylene-ethylene copolymer, etc. Made of fluororesin.

  The atmosphere communication pipe 82 extends downward from the lower surface of the partition wall 44 into the first storage chamber 32. That is, the atmosphere communication pipe 82 is located at a height below the upper surface of the partition wall 44.

  In the present embodiment, the atmosphere communication pipe 82 has a cylindrical shape. However, the atmosphere communication pipe 82 is not limited to a cylindrical shape. For example, the atmosphere communication pipe 82 may have a hollow quadrangular prism shape. The atmosphere communication pipe 82 extends from the partition wall 44, but may be a hollow tube formed of a flexible material that penetrates the partition wall 44, for example.

  The atmosphere communication pipe 82 is formed so as to surround the through hole 46 when the partition wall 44 is viewed from below. That is, the through hole 46 communicates with the upper end of the internal space 74 of the atmosphere communication pipe 82. That is, the internal space 74 of the atmosphere communication pipe 82 communicates with the air chamber 73 through the through hole 46. An opening 85 (an example of an opening at one end of the atmospheric communication channel) formed at the lower end of the atmospheric communication pipe 82 communicates with the first storage chamber 32. Here, as described above, the atmosphere valve chamber 36 communicates with the atmosphere through the atmosphere communication port 96. That is, one end of the atmosphere communication channel 72 opens into the first storage chamber 32 through the opening 85 of the atmosphere communication pipe 82. On the other hand, the other end of the atmosphere communication channel 72 is opened to the atmosphere by an atmosphere communication port 96.

  The atmosphere communication pipe 82 is located in the rear end portion of the first storage chamber 32, that is, in the vicinity of the rear wall 41 in the first storage chamber 32. In addition, the lower end of the atmosphere communication pipe 82, that is, the opening 85 is located below the position P2 and above the position P3. The position P3 is a central position in the vertical direction of the first storage chamber 32 and the second storage chamber 33. In other words, in the vertical direction, the distance between the upper end of the first storage chamber 32 and the position P3 is the same as the distance between the lower end of the second storage chamber 33 and the position P3.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the volume V1 of the region above the opening 85 of the atmosphere communication pipe 82 in the first storage chamber 32 and below the position P2 (corresponding to the region indicated by hatching in FIG. 8). Space) is smaller than the volume V2 of the air chamber 73 and the atmospheric valve chamber 36 (a space corresponding to a region shown by hatching in FIG. 8).

  The volume of the internal space of the tank 103 (see FIG. 1) is larger than the volume V2 of the air chamber 73 and the atmospheric valve chamber 36.

  The ink supply unit 34 transfers the ink stored in the first storage chamber 32 and the second storage chamber 33 from the ink valve chamber 35 to the outside of the ink cartridge 30 (in the present embodiment, the ink needle 102). To the internal space).

  The ink supply unit 34 has a cylindrical outer shape. More specifically, the ink supply unit 34 includes a cylinder 75 whose front end is open and a packing 76. The cylinder 75 projects forward from the step surface 49. The internal space of the cylinder 75 is the ink valve chamber 35. The front end of the cylinder 75 opens to the outside of the ink cartridge 30. A packing 76 is located at the front end of the cylinder 75.

  A valve 77 and a coil spring 78 are accommodated in the ink valve chamber 35. The valve 77 moves along the front-rear direction to open and close the ink supply port 71 penetrating through the center of the packing 76. The coil spring 78 urges the valve 77 forward. Therefore, the valve 77 closes the ink supply port 71 of the packing 76 in a state where no external force is applied.

  The packing 76 is a disk-shaped member having a through hole formed in the center. The packing 76 is made of an elastic material such as rubber or elastomer, for example. The center of the packing 76 is penetrated in the front-rear direction to form a cylindrical inner peripheral surface. In the packing 76, an ink supply port 71 is formed by the cylindrical inner peripheral surface. The inner diameter of the ink supply port 71 is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the ink needle 102.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110 in a state where the valve 77 closes the ink supply port 71, the ink needle 102 enters the ink supply port 71. The ink needle 102 elastically deforms the packing 76 and its outer peripheral surface comes into liquid-tight contact with the inner peripheral surface that defines the ink supply port 71. When the tip of the ink needle 102 passes through the ink supply port 71 formed in the packing 76 and enters the ink valve chamber 35, the tip of the ink needle 102 comes into contact with the valve 77. Further, when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110, the ink needle 102 moves the valve 77 backward against the urging force of the coil spring 78. As a result, the ink stored in the ink valve chamber 35 can flow to the internal space of the ink needle 102.

[Example of operation of injecting ink into ink cartridge 30]
Hereinafter, an example of an operation for injecting ink into the first storage chamber 32, the second storage chamber 33, and the ink valve chamber 35 when the ink cartridge 30 is manufactured will be described.

  First, as shown in FIG. 9, the ink needle 170 is inserted into the ink supply port 71 of the ink cartridge 30 in which the ink is not stored in the first storage chamber 32, the second storage chamber 33, and the ink valve chamber 35. Is done. The ink needle 170 is different from the ink needle 102 described above (the ink needle 102 provided in the cartridge case 101). One end of the ink needle 170 is inserted into the ink supply port 71. The other end of the ink needle 170 communicates with a housing 171 such as an ink bottle in which ink is stored via a tube. The ink needle 170 is inserted into the ink supply port 71, and the valve 77 is moved backward against the biasing force of the coil spring 78, so that the ink stored in the housing 171 is transferred to the ink valve chamber 35, the second one. It becomes possible to distribute to the storage chamber 33 and the first storage chamber 32.

  As described above, when the ink is injected into the first storage chamber 32, the second storage chamber 33, and the ink valve chamber 35 during the manufacture of the ink cartridge 30, the ink supply unit 34 is connected to the outside (a housing such as an ink bottle). It is used as an inlet for injecting ink from the body 171) into the first storage chamber 32 and the second storage chamber 33.

  Next, the pressure reducing valve 172 is connected to the atmosphere communication port 96. One end of the pressure reducing valve 172 is inserted into the atmosphere communication port 96. The other end of the pressure reducing valve 172 is connected to the pump 173. One end of the inserted pressure reducing valve 172 moves the valve 97 rearward against the biasing force of the coil spring 98. When the valve 97 moves rearward and leaves the atmosphere communication port 96, the first storage chamber 32, the second storage chamber 33, and the ink valve chamber 35 are connected to the internal space 74, the air chamber 73, and the air communication pipe 82. The pressure reducing valve 172 communicates with the atmospheric valve chamber 36.

  Next, the pump 173 is driven. Thereby, the inside of the 1st storage chamber 32, the 2nd storage chamber 33, and the ink valve chamber 35 is pressure-reduced. As a result, the ink stored in the housing 171 is sucked into the ink valve chamber 35. Further, the sucked ink flows from the ink valve chamber 35 to the second storage chamber 33 and the first storage chamber 32.

  When the sucked ink level blocks the opening 85, no more ink can be injected. For example, when ink is injected with the ink cartridge 30 in the posture shown in FIG. 9, when the ink level reaches the position P4 in the vertical direction, no more ink can be injected. Therefore, at the time of ink injection, as shown in FIG. 10, the ink cartridge 30 is tilted so that the rear end is located above the front end. Thus, ink can be injected until the ink level reaches the position P5 in the vertical direction. That is, a larger amount of ink can be injected into the first storage chamber 32, the second storage chamber 33, and the ink valve chamber 35 than when the ink cartridge 30 is not tilted.

[Modification]
In the above embodiment, the atmosphere communication pipe 82 is located in the vicinity of the rear wall 41 in the first storage chamber 32. However, the atmosphere communication pipe 82 may be located in the vicinity of the front wall 40 in the first storage chamber 32. In this case, when ink is injected into the first storage chamber 32, the second storage chamber 33, and the ink valve chamber 35 during the manufacture of the ink cartridge 30, the front end of the ink cartridge 30 is positioned above the rear end. It is desirable to be able to tilt.

  In the above embodiment, the atmosphere communication pipe 82 is located at the end of the first storage chamber 32 in the front-rear direction. However, the atmosphere communication pipe 82 may be located other than the end of the first storage chamber 32 in the front-rear direction. For example, the atmosphere communication pipe 82 may be located in any of the regions behind the position P1 and above the position P3 shown in FIG. 7, or ahead of the position P1 shown in FIG. It may be located in any region above P3.

  In the above embodiment, the atmosphere communication pipe 82 extends from the partition wall 44. However, the atmosphere communication pipe 82 may extend from a wall other than the partition wall 44. In the above embodiment, the through hole 46 is formed in the partition wall 44. However, the through hole 46 may be formed on a wall other than the partition wall 44. For example, the through hole 46 may be formed in the side wall 37, and the atmosphere communication pipe 82 may extend from the side wall 37 to the first storage chamber 32 while being bent or curved. In this case, the upper end of the atmosphere communication pipe 82 is located above the upper surface of the partition wall 44.

  In the above embodiment, the upper surface of the partition wall 44 is inclined downward toward the through hole 46. However, the upper surface of the partition wall 44 may not be inclined.

  In the above embodiment, the air chamber 73 and the atmospheric valve chamber 36 are formed from a position closer to the front wall 40 than the center position P1 to a position closer to the rear wall 41 than the center position P1 in the front-rear direction. However, the range in which the air chamber 73 and the atmospheric valve chamber 36 are formed is not limited to the range of the above embodiment. For example, the air chamber 73 and the atmospheric valve chamber 36 may be formed only at positions closer to the front wall 40 than the central position P1 in the front-rear direction, or positions closer to the rear wall 41 than the central position P1 in the front-rear direction. It may be formed only on.

  In the above embodiment, the air chamber 73 and the atmospheric valve chamber 36 are located above the partition wall 44, but may be located at other positions. For example, the air chamber 73 and the atmospheric valve chamber 36 may be positioned forward of the front wall 40 or may be positioned rightward of the side wall 37.

  In the above embodiment, the air chamber 73 and the atmospheric valve chamber 36 are formed between the atmospheric communication pipe 82 and the outside of the ink cartridge 30. However, the air chamber 73 and the atmospheric valve chamber 36 may not be formed. In this case, one end (opening 85) of the atmosphere communication pipe 82 is communicated with the first storage chamber 32, and the other end (through hole 46) of the atmosphere communication pipe 82 is communicated with the outside of the ink cartridge 30.

  In the above embodiment, the volume V1 of the region above the opening 85 of the atmosphere communication pipe 82 in the first storage chamber 32 and below the position P2 (space corresponding to the region shown by hatching in FIG. 8). Is smaller than the volume V2 of the air chamber 73 and the atmospheric valve chamber 36 (a space corresponding to the area shown by hatching in FIG. 8). However, the volume V1 may be greater than or equal to the volume V2.

  In the above embodiment, the volume of the internal space of the tank 103 (see FIG. 1) is larger than the volume V2 of the air chamber 73 and the atmospheric valve chamber 36, but the volume of the internal space of the tank 103 (see FIG. 1) is Volume V2 or less may be sufficient.

  In the above embodiment, the ink supply unit 34 protrudes forward from the step surface 49. However, the position where the ink supply unit 34 is provided may be other than the stepped surface 49. For example, the ink supply unit 34 may protrude downward from the lower wall 42, or may protrude forward from the front wall 40. Further, the ink supply unit 34 may not protrude from the wall. For example, the ink supply port 71 may be formed in the step surface 49, and the ink valve chamber 35 may be located behind the step surface 49.

  In the above-described embodiment, the ink supply unit 34 is used as an injection port for injecting liquid into the first storage chamber 32 and the second storage chamber 33 from the outside. However, what is used as the injection port is not limited to the ink supply unit 34. For example, an opening for use as the injection port may be provided separately from the ink supply port 71 of the ink supply unit 34.

  In the above embodiment, the cartridge mounting unit 110 includes the tank 103. However, the cartridge mounting unit 110 may not include the tank 103. For example, the internal space of the ink needle 102 is connected to the ink tube 20, and the ink stored in the first storage chamber 32, the second storage chamber 33, and the ink valve chamber 35 is the internal space of the ink needle 102 and the ink. The recording head 21 may be supplied through the tube 20.

  In the above embodiment, the casing 31 as a whole has a thin dimension along the left-right direction, and the dimensions along the vertical direction and the front-rear direction are larger than the dimensions along the left-right direction. However, the shape of the housing 31 is not limited to the shape described above. For example, the housing 31 may have a shape in which the dimension along the left-right direction is larger than the dimension along each of the up-down direction and the front-rear direction.

  For example, the housing 31 may have an outer shape as shown in FIG. In this case, the housing 31 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape.

  The housing 31 may be composed of a single molded container, or may be composed of a plurality of members. The plurality of members are, for example, a container whose upper end is open and a lid that covers the upper end of the container. For example, you may be comprised with the film by which the one part outer surface of the housing | casing 31 was welded.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the ink supply unit 34 may protrude downward from the lower wall 42. In this case, the ink cartridge 30 may be mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110 with the gravity direction as the insertion direction. Of course, even if the protruding direction of the ink supply unit 34 is other than the downward direction, the ink cartridge 30 may be mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110 with the gravity direction as the insertion direction.

  The ink supply unit 34 does not necessarily have to protrude from the housing 31. For example, an ink supply port 71 may be formed on the outer surface of the housing 31.

  In the embodiment described above, two storage chambers (the first storage chamber 32 and the second storage chamber 33) are formed inside the housing 31, but the number of storage chambers is not limited to two. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, only one storage chamber 86 may be formed inside the housing 31. Of course, three or more storage chambers may be formed.

  In the above embodiment, the ink supply port 71 and the atmosphere communication port 96 are opened by valves. However, the means for opening the ink supply port 71 and the atmosphere communication port 96 is not limited to a valve. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, a seal 87 may be attached to the ink supply port 71 and the atmosphere communication port 96. Accordingly, the ink storage chamber 187 and the atmosphere communication port 96 and the outside of the ink cartridge 30 are sealed in a liquid-tight manner. When the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, the needle or the rod breaks through the seal 87, so that ink can be circulated from the storage chamber 86 to the outside of the ink cartridge 30. The storage chamber 86 and the ink cartridge 30 is opened to the atmosphere through the atmosphere communication port 96.

  In the above-described embodiment, ink is described as an example of a liquid. However, instead of ink, for example, a pretreatment liquid ejected onto paper or the like prior to ink at the time of printing may be stored in a liquid cartridge. Further, water for cleaning the recording head 21 may be stored in the liquid cartridge. That is, the ink cartridge 30 of the present disclosure does not have to be a cartridge for storing ink, and may be a cartridge for storing liquid consumed by the printer 10.

[Function and effect]
According to the above embodiment, since the opening 85 at one end of the atmosphere communication flow path 72 is located in the upper part of the first storage chamber 32, the ink cartridge 30 is moved to a high altitude after manufacture, so that the outside of the ink cartridge 30 is large. Even when the atmospheric pressure is lowered, the amount of ink stored in the first storage chamber 32 being sucked into the atmosphere communication channel 72 can be reduced.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 12, when the opening 85 of the atmosphere communication pipe 82 is below the position P3, the maximum amount of ink that can flow from the first storage chamber 32 to the air chamber 73 through the opening 85 is as shown in FIG. This is an amount corresponding to the volume V3 shown in FIG. On the other hand, according to the above embodiment, the amount of ink that can flow out from the first storage chamber 32 to the air chamber 73 through the opening 85 is the maximum amount corresponding to the volume V4 shown in FIG. 13, and corresponds to the volume V3. Less than the amount. Thus, according to the above embodiment, the amount of ink that flows out can be suppressed.

  Further, when ink is injected into the first storage chamber 32, if the opening 85 at one end of the atmosphere communication flow path 72 is blocked by the ink, air cannot be introduced into the first storage chamber 32 from the outside. No more ink can be injected. Therefore, when injecting ink into the first storage chamber 32, the housing 31 is tilted to inject as much ink as possible. However, if the opening 85 at one end of the atmosphere communication flow path 72 is positioned below the first storage chamber 32 (see FIG. 12), the opening 85 is blocked with a small amount of ink even if the housing 31 is tilted. As a result, a large amount of ink cannot be injected into the first storage chamber 32. According to the above embodiment, since the opening 85 at one end of the atmosphere communication channel 72 is located in the upper part of the first storage chamber 32, a large amount of ink is injected into the first storage chamber 32 as shown in FIG. 10. be able to.

  Further, according to the embodiment, since the atmosphere communication pipe 82 is located in the vicinity of the rear wall 41 in the first storage chamber 32, the housing 31 is inclined to the first storage chamber 32 as shown in FIG. 10. When ink is injected, a large amount of ink can be injected into the first storage chamber 32 by tilting the housing 31 so that the rear portion of the first storage chamber 32 is above the front portion.

  Moreover, according to the said embodiment, the length of the 1st storage chamber 32 in the front-back direction is longer than the length of the 1st storage chamber 32 in the left-right direction. Therefore, when the ink cartridge 30 is configured such that the atmosphere communication pipe 82 is positioned in the vicinity of the rear wall 41 or the front wall 40 in the first storage chamber 32, more ink is stored in the first storage chamber 32. Can be injected into.

  Further, according to the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the inlet for injecting ink from the outside into the first storage chamber 32 is used as the first inlet after the ink is injected into the first storage chamber 32. It can also serve as the ink supply part 34 for supplying the ink in the storage chamber 32 to the outside. Thereby, since the number of openings formed in the first storage chamber 32 is reduced, ink leakage can be further reduced.

  Moreover, according to the said embodiment, since the space which consists of the air chamber 73 and the atmospheric | air valve chamber 36 is long back and forth, the horizontal cross-sectional area of the said space becomes large. Thereby, even if the ink is sucked into the atmosphere communication channel 72 and reaches the space, the liquid level 88 of the ink in the atmosphere communication channel 72 is long in the front-rear direction as shown in FIG. The horizontal sectional area of the liquid surface 88 is increased. Therefore, the ink liquid level 88 in the space is unlikely to be high. As a result, an increase in the water head pressure on the ink surface can be suppressed.

  Moreover, according to the said embodiment, as FIG. 8 shows, the volume V1 is smaller than the volume V2. Therefore, if the ink cartridge 30 is moved to a high altitude after manufacture, the atmospheric pressure outside the ink cartridge 30 is lowered, and the ink stored in the first storage chamber 32 enters the atmosphere communication channel 72. Even if the ink level is lower than the opening 85 at one end of the atmosphere communication channel 72, the ink does not enter the air chamber 73 and the atmosphere valve chamber 36 any more. That is, ink having a volume larger than the volume V <b> 1 does not enter the air chamber 73 and the atmospheric valve chamber 36. Even if the volume V1 of ink enters the air chamber 73 and the atmospheric valve chamber 36, the air chamber 73 and the atmospheric valve chamber 36 are not completely filled with ink. Therefore, the overflow of ink from the air chamber 73 and the atmospheric valve chamber 36 to the outside of the housing 31 can be suppressed.

  If the upper end of the atmosphere communication pipe 82 is at a position higher than the upper surface of the partition wall 44, the air chamber 73 and the atmosphere valve chamber are sucked from the first storage chamber 32 into the opening 85 at one end of the atmosphere communication channel 72. Of the ink that has entered the interior 36, it is difficult for the ink located at a height near the upper surface of the partition wall 44 to return to the first storage chamber 32. However, in the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, since the upper end of the atmosphere communication pipe 82 is located at a height below the upper surface of the partition wall 44, the ink positioned near the upper surface of the partition wall 44 It is easy to return to the one storage chamber 32.

  Further, according to the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, since the through hole 46 is formed on the upper surface of the partition wall 44, the suction from the first storage chamber 32 to the opening 85 at one end of the atmosphere communication channel 72. The ink that has broken into the air chamber 73 and the atmospheric valve chamber 36 easily returns to the first storage chamber 32.

  Further, according to the above embodiment, the ink sucked from the first storage chamber 32 into the opening 85 at one end of the atmosphere communication channel 72 and entering the air chamber 73 and the atmosphere valve chamber 36 is the upper surface of the inclined partition wall 44. Along the through hole 46. As a result, the ink that has entered the air chamber 73 and the atmospheric valve chamber 36 easily returns to the first storage chamber 32.

  Further, according to the embodiment, when the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110, ink flows from the first storage chamber 32 to the internal space of the tank 103 due to a water head difference. At that time, the ink sucked from the first storage chamber 32 into the opening 85 at one end of the atmospheric communication flow path 72 and entering the air chamber 73 and the atmospheric valve chamber 36 is stored in the air chamber 73 and the atmospheric valve chamber 36 from the first reservoir. Circulate to chamber 32. Here, according to the embodiment, the volume of the internal space of the tank 103 is larger than the volume V2 of the air chamber 73 and the atmospheric valve chamber 36. Therefore, all of the ink sucked from the first storage chamber 32 into the opening 85 at one end of the atmospheric communication channel 72 and entering the air chamber 73 and the atmospheric valve chamber 36 can be returned to the first storage chamber 32.

10 ... Printer (Liquid consumption device)
30 ... Ink cartridge (liquid cartridge)
32 ... 1st storage chamber (liquid storage chamber)
33 ... 2nd storage chamber (liquid storage chamber)
34: Ink supply part (liquid supply hole)
40 ... front wall 41 ... rear wall 42 ... lower wall 44 ... partition wall (upper wall)
48 ... Sub lower wall (lower wall)
72 ... atmosphere communication channel 82 ... atmosphere communication pipe 85 ... opening

Claims (11)

Front and rear walls separated in the front-rear direction intersecting the direction of gravity in the use posture, an upper wall connecting the upper end of the front wall and the upper end of the rear wall, the lower end of the front wall and the lower end of the rear wall A housing in which a liquid storage chamber is defined by a lower wall connecting the parts;
A liquid supply hole for supplying the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber to the outside;
An atmosphere communication channel for communicating the liquid storage chamber with the atmosphere, and
One end of the atmospheric communication channel opens into the liquid storage chamber, the other end of the atmospheric communication channel opens to the atmosphere,
The opening at one end of the atmosphere communication channel is formed in an atmosphere communication pipe extending downward from the upper wall into the liquid storage chamber,
The opening at one end of the atmosphere communication channel is below the liquid level when the maximum amount of liquid allowed to be stored in the liquid storage chamber in the use posture and in the vertical direction of the liquid storage chamber. A liquid cartridge located above the center.   The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the atmosphere communication pipe is located in the vicinity of the front wall or in the vicinity of the rear wall in the liquid storage chamber.   3. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a length of the liquid storage chamber in the front-rear direction is longer than a length of the liquid storage chamber in a width direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction and the vertical direction.   4. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the liquid supply hole is an injection port through which liquid can be injected into the liquid storage chamber from the outside. The housing includes a buffer chamber positioned above the upper wall in the vertical direction,
The buffer chamber communicates with the liquid storage chamber through a storage chamber side opening communicating with the atmosphere communication pipe and communicates with the outside of the housing and the external side opening,
The buffer chamber is formed from a position closer to the front wall than a center of the liquid storage chamber in the front-rear direction to a position closer to the rear wall than the center in the front-rear direction. 5. The liquid cartridge according to any one of items 1 to 4.   A region above the opening at one end of the atmosphere communication channel in the liquid storage chamber and below the liquid level when the maximum amount of liquid allowed to be stored in the liquid storage chamber is stored in the use posture. The liquid cartridge according to claim 5, wherein a volume of the region is smaller than a volume of the buffer chamber.   7. The liquid cartridge according to claim 5, wherein an upper end of the atmosphere communication pipe is positioned at a height below the bottom surface of the buffer chamber in the vertical direction.   The liquid cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the storage chamber side opening is formed on a bottom surface of the buffer chamber.   The liquid cartridge according to claim 8, wherein a bottom surface of the buffer chamber is inclined downward toward the storage chamber side opening.   The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the liquid supply hole faces a direction intersecting the gravitational direction in the use posture. A liquid cartridge according to any one of claims 5 to 10,
A cartridge mounting portion to which the liquid cartridge can be mounted, and has a main body side liquid storage chamber that communicates with the liquid supply hole and stores the liquid supplied from the liquid supply hole when the liquid cartridge is mounted. A cartridge mounting portion;
A consumption unit for consuming the liquid supplied from the main body side liquid storage chamber,
A liquid consuming device in which a volume of the main body side liquid storage chamber is larger than a volume of the buffer chamber.

Images